In 2013 Jeff Weiner wrote a post on
LinkedIn explaining why he schedules 30- to 90-minute
blocks of "nothing" into his schedule for personal time,
coaching, and reflection.

"If you were to see my calendar, you'd probably notice a host of
time slots greyed out but with no indication of what's going on,"
the LinkedIn CEO writes. "There is no problem with my Outlook or
printer. The grey sections reflect 'buffers,' or time periods
I've purposely kept clear of meetings."

Weiner writes in the LinkedIn post that he developed this system
in response to a schedule that was becoming "so jammed with
back-to-back meetings that I had little time left to process what
was going on around me or just think."

At first, he explains, these periods of nothing felt like
indulgences — but over time he realized "not only were these
breaks important, they were absolutely necessary in order for me
to do my job," he writes.

During his blocks of "free" time, Weiner focuses on getting to
know his team and coaching them to solve problems on their own
(rather than just telling them what to do, which seems easier,
but would actually cost him more time in the long
run); strategic thinking; and reflecting on his
company's mission.

Other things he suggests you do with your buffer time: "think
big, catch up on the latest industry news, get out from under
that pile of unread emails, or just take a walk."

Whatever you do, he says, "just make sure you make that time for
yourself — every day and in a systematic way — and don't leave
unscheduled moments to chance. The buffer is the best investment
you can make in yourself and the single most important
productivity tool I use."

But he says the most important reason to schedule
nothing time is to "just catch your breath."

"There is no
faster way to feel as though your day is not your own, and that
you are no longer in control, than scheduling meetings back to
back from the minute you arrive at the office until the moment
you leave," Weiner explains. "I've felt the effects of this and
seen it with colleagues. Not only is it not fun to feel this way,
it's not sustainable."